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Actiview Creator Answers Your Questions

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On July 18th, I reported a story on Actiview, a mobile app you can download to your Apple device. It provides closed captioning, amplified audio and even sign language interpretation. You can use the app either at home, or in the theatres.

Following our original report, we received several comments from viewers concerned about the efficiency of this app. We reached out to Alex Koren, one of the founders of Actiview to address these concerns.

Will theatres allow you to use your phone throughout the movie?

Alex:

We’ve worked really hard over the past year and a half to make sure the app is easy to use while the lighting emitting from your device is still dim enough not to bother anyone else in the theatre. We work really closely with Hollywood and exhibitors

Karla:

But won’t your phone also alert you when someone tries to text or call?

Alex:

When you’re using the app you can actually use [it] in airplane mode whether you’re at the theatre or even at home. You download the content beforehand and your phone automatically synchronizes it, but if you don’t put it on airplane mode you get a call or a text message in the middle of the movie, it’ll actually pop you out of the app [and] when you come back in, your experience will just continue. So there’s no worry that you’re gonna miss out on any of the action.

Karla:

How much battery does this app consume?

Alex:

You can expect to use between 10 and 15% of your battery over the course of a two-hour movie.

Karla:Holding your phone throughout an entire movie isn’t ideal. Do you have a solution for this?

Alex:

The first is a really easy to use mount that you can actually put your phone directly into. And then by putting this in the cup holder, you can have this in a place that you feel is comfortable and watch the movie, uh in a way that you want to with the captions just below the movie theatre screen.

We’re working on glasses that’ll actually display the captions right over your eye, connected to your phone via Bluetooth.

Karla:

Our first report mentioned this service was available for the movie “Cars 3.” Can you use this app for other films too?

Alex:

For every future release, closed captions will be available.

Karla:

What else can we expect from Actiview?

Alex:

We’re working with all the studios in LA to [get] content into the platform. We want a library of HUNDREDS of movies so you can be sure wherever you go, to a friend’s house to watch a movie or to the theatre, that you can have all the content you need to have an enjoyable experience.

Alex:

Actiview is here to provide closed captions, audio streams and sign language interpretation to make sure every time you see a movie, it’s an experience that you can love. To do this, we need your support. We need your ideas, we need your feedback. Every time someone downloads the app or uses it, it sends a big message to Hollywood and to the movie theatres saying this is important. Access is important. We want captions, we want audio. Without you guys, none of this is possible. We can’t wait to work together to make sure this is the best possible experience for you, and for everyone to see movies.

Thank you, Alex! If you would like to provide feedback about Actiview, follow them on Twitter @TeamActiview and tweet them with your comments.